Resistance to chemotherapy: new treatments and novel insights into an old problem
2008

Resistance to Chemotherapy: New Treatments and Insights

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Raguz S, Yagüe E

Primary Institution: Imperial College Faculty of Medicine

Hypothesis

The ability to acquire drug resistance arises early during the tumorigenesis process.

Conclusion

Drug resistance can develop before full malignant transformation, indicating it is an intrinsic part of the tumorigenesis process.

Supporting Evidence

  • Drug resistance mechanisms can arise early in the tumorigenic process.
  • Minimally transformed cells can develop drug resistance before full malignant transformation.
  • Resistance to therapies like imatinib and trastuzumab highlights the ongoing challenge in cancer treatment.

Takeaway

Cancer cells can learn to resist treatment even before they become fully cancerous, making it harder to treat them later.

Limitations

The findings need to be confirmed in other cancer models and with different drugs.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6604510

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